I can do well at World Championships, believes Kidambi Srikanth

03/26/2019

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Kidambi Srikanth reckons that if he gets better physically and mentally, he will perform well at the upcoming World Championships which will be held in Switzerland. Srikanth added that he is eager to improve the little details in his game to maintain his form ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

Indian ace shuttler Srikanth has had a below-par season thus far on the international circuit. The Arjuna Award recipient ended the 2018 season without winning any major titles and admits that the losses in the quarter-final stages of the tournaments hurt more than losing in the opening rounds.

Srikanth, who had clinched four titles in 2017, lost nine quarterfinals and two semifinals. The 26-year-old only reached the final in last year’s Gold Coast CWG where he had to settle for a silver medal.

“I think the series of quarterfinals are more irritating for me than losing in the first round. I think I have been consistent against a few players and then not able to get that win against a few others at quarterfinals and semifinals, that is what I’m working on – to last the whole week. Probably, if I can do well in next 3-4 months before the World Championship. If I can get better physically and tougher mentally, I think I can do well at World Championship.

“I’m working on my fitness, I had too many injuries in late 2017 and 2018 and so if I can keep working on my fitness then I will have a great chance to win titles. That is what worked for me in 2017, because I could sustain an hour and half hour. But 2018 and early 2019, I had some injuries and withdrew from tournaments. I am okay now. I had an ankle injury after playing a series of events at Malaysia, Indonesia and PBL. I’m feeling good now and I have been able to train for three weeks and I feel confident,” Srikanth said ahead of the start of this year’s India Open.

Srikanth, who was earlier the top-ranked BWF player in the world, added that he just wants to focus on improving the little details in his game and maintain a positive momentum ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

“I couldn’t produce the results that I wanted to but still I’m happy with my improvement. So I am in that process now.

“I’m not desperate, I just want to improve on different things, to be able to pull out crucial points in tough matches and be more consistent. All I am working on now is to do well at the Olympics. If I can hold on to the momentum and keep improving till the Olympics, I can do well there,” Srikanth added.

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